Spring bed-bottom



UNITED STATES PATENT Osman.

EDWIN P. FOWLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SPRING BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,262, dated November 9, 1880. Application filed April 25, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN P. FOWLER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Spring Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a spring bed-bottom which may be rolled up like an ordinary mattress, and which may be contracted or extended to cause it to properly fit bedsteads of different sizes.

Theinvention consistsin a springbed-bottom comprising a bottom frame-work consisting of longitudinal slats and cross-slats composed of sections made of flexible material and constructed so as to be adjusted relatively to each other, and a series of spiral springs connected so as to provide for the flexure as also the adjustmentof the springs relatively to each other, whereby provision is afforded for rolling and adjusting the said spring bed-bottom.

It also consists in details hereinafteri described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of a spring bed-bottom embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a top view of adjacent portions of sections composing the bottom frame-work. Fig. 3 is an end view thereof when rolled up; and Fig. 4 is an end view of a portion of the bed-bottom, the better to illustrate its construction.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The bottom frame-work is composed of longitudinal slats A A A whichmay be made of metal, and cross-slats 13, made so as to permit of the rolling of the bed-bottom transversely, and preferably of flexible and elastic metal, such as steel. In this example of my invention thesecross-slats B are made in two longitudinal sections, which are each fitted with a loop or slide, a, fitting upon the other section, so that the sections may be adjusted relatively to each other, and the slats consequently extended or contracted lengthwise. The central longitudinal slat, A, is furnished with loops or slides b, embracing the cross-slats, so as to provide for the extension and adjustment of the latter independent of it. The longitudinal slats A, which in this instance are two in number, are rigidly affixed to one set of sections of the cross-slats B, and the longitudinal slats A which in this instance are also two in number, are rigidly affixed to the other set of sections of the cross-slats. Hence these sets of slats may be adjusted relatively to each other and the central slat, A.

'O designates springs (shown as of spiral form) fastened to and supported by the longitudinal slats and connected at the top by chains D, secured to their uppermost coils, whereby provision is afforded for the fiexure as well as the adjustment of the springs relatively to each other. The outer longitudinal rows of these springs preferably have connected to them, by clips or otherwise, slats E, which, if desirable, may be stayed or braced by cross springs F, consisting of strips of steel extending from the longitudinal slats in the bottom frame-work to the slats E, as clearly represented in Fig. 4.

Between the longitudinal slat A and the adjacent slats A and A are strips or bars Gr, connected at the ends by toggle-links H, pivoted at their points of connection, so that by pulling the sides of the bed-bottom away from each other it may be extended, and by pushing the sides toward each other it may be contracted laterally.

A cross-link, I, pivoted to the central longitudinal slat, A, and to the strips or bars Gr, may be employed, if desirable. The strips or bars G and links H and I afford the bed-bottom the necessary rigidity when in use.

It will be seen that this bed-bottom may be rolled up laterally and fastened by hooking or slipping loops or openings 0 in the ends of the cross-slats B over hooks or pins d, with which their other ends are furnished; also, that it may be adjusted laterally, so as to narrow or widen it, in order to adapt it to fit bed-bottoms of different sizes. As bedsteads vary in width more or less, this provision for adjustment is very important, and, in connection with the provision for rolling, renders the bed-bottom exceedingly convenient.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Aspring bed-bottom comprising a bottom frame-work consisting of longitudinal slats and cross-slats composed of sections made of flexible material, and constructed so as to be ad justable relatively to each other, and a series of spiral springs connected sons to provide for the flexure, as also the adjustment of the springs relatively to each other, substantially as speci- 5 tied, whereby provision is afl'orded for rolling and adjusting the said spring bed-bottom.

2. The spring lltlldlOltOlll consisting of the longitudinal slats A A A sectional crossslats B, bars or strips G, toggle-links H, springs U, and chains D, substantially as specified. EDWIN P. FOWLER. Witnesses:

CHANDLER HALL, THOMAS E. BIRCH. 

